Lopunny broke through the barrier, tearing past it like a car through a pane of glass. She crashed into Bisharp's chest like a torpedo. The dark type screamed before he slashed at her shins. With a hiss, Lopunny bounced away, the back of her shins bleeding out. She tumbled onto the floor, rolling into the ground and smacking into a wall.
Ampharos dashed towards his friend. However, Sableye was quick to cut him off. Dozens of gems flew towards Ampharos, pelting him. Ampharos was thrown back into his comrades, tumbling to the floor. Ampharos then yelled at Lopunny,
"Mega Evolve, please!" Lopunny nodded as she revealed her mega stone from her scarf. Bisharp saw this and demanded,
"SABLEYE! Keep her in place!" Sableye was quick to respond, sending dozens of gems in an attempt to imprison the bunny.
Lopunny then leaped from the spot as she was enveloped in rainbow energy. The energy formed into glass like spikes before shattering and exploding, revealing Lopunny's Mega form. Her ears had been tied up, like pigtails. Her legs looked like black pantyhose had been torn across them. She stood up and sprinted towards Sableye. The dark type swirled dozens of gems around and sent them flying towards the ice type, forming them into knives.
The hybrid stomped the floor, creating a barrier that caught the many blades. Mist began to billow out from behind it. Sableye and Umbreon stood still but Bisharp took initiative. He jumped towards the barrier of ice and slashed through it with ease.
The mist exploded through the wall and overwhelmed the dark type. He covered his face as the mist coated the area. Bisharp clanged his wrists together as the loud sound of metal bashing against itself. The resulting boom of sound pushed the mist away like Moses parting the Red Sea. He was alarmed to see that Lopunny had taken the chance to evacuate everyone. Even the unconscious Aggron had been taken somewhere. Bisharp saw that the ground had frozen over, allowing them to move without a sound.
Bisharp yelled at Sableye,
"Find them!" The dark type listened and ran into the darkness. Malamar and his remaining slaves, Infernape and Garchomp followed closely behind him.
Aggron was swiftly healed by Liligant. Groaning as he sat up, he smiled at Tyrantrum,
"Thanks. That hurt but it helped." Aggron then grabbed Lopunny by the leg before she burst back into the fight. Lopunny fought against his grip,
"Let me go! I'm tearing that squid limb for limb!" She snarled.
"He's got an Infernape-shaped gun aimed at your head. Don't do anything stupid."
Lopunny stopped her resistance as the now six Pokémon regrouped. Ampharos explained the situation and Aggron told them about how Gardevoir was captured. It was then that Aggron said something odd,
"We should focus on bringing those four as far from Druddigon as possible." Ampharos questioned Aggron,
"Why that? Shouldn't we try to rescue Gardevoir?"
"She can handle herself." Aggron explained, "We need to bring Infernape and Garchomp back first!"
As Aggron explained the plan, Tyrantrum remained in silence. Liligant noticed and went by his side,
"What's wrong? We've wonneth a small victory but thy art frowning." she questioned, placing a gentle hand on his thigh. The dinosaur glanced at her and then looked back at Aggron,
"If that were anyone else, I would've killed them. I was careless and nearly cost him his life." he said softly. Liligant stared up at him,
"It was a mistake. We all maketh mistakes."
"My mistake almost killed someone." Tyrantrum countered. Liligant then walked in front of him,
"Thou can't blame thyself for a mistake forever." she paused for a moment before continuing, "Thou can maketh up for it." Tyrantrum glanced at her with interest before looking at Aggron. To say that Aggron was having a rough day would be an understatement. Why shouldn't he at least try?
Elsewhere, within the labyrinthine halls of the aqueduct.
Umbreon sprinted as fast as she could. She could feel her lungs burning, her muscles aching with pain. Gardevoir had disappeared into the depths of the aqueduct and hadn't left a trace. In these tunnels, Gardevoir could disappear for days, weeks even. Despite those odds, Umbreon had to find her. Bisharp would undoubtedly kill her if she came back empty handed.
Umbreon began to slow down. Her body just couldn't keep this up forever. She stumbled to her knees, much to her chagrin. She laid herself near a wall, panting violently. She tried desperately to move, but she was completely drained of energy. It was there, someone within the tunnels of the aqueduct that she felt tears slowly trickling down her cheek. Tears she didn't know she was holding back. Umbreon tried to stop them, biting her lip, but it was all for naught.
It was all over. Her life, her dreams, all left in the dust. She had failed. Gardevoir could be anywhere right now. Flying was so much easier than running, and even Umbreon, who was used to walking for miles and miles, couldn't possibly keep up. She couldn't run for miles and miles. She had failed the only family she ever had. The only sense of security she ever had. Now, they'd all be furious at her, and this time, she'd have it coming…
…Especially since Gardevoir took the Eclipse Gem.